You only get one shot at this.
For me it was in 1979, when I was a senior at Sachem High School. When you have dreams of getting drafted, you have to learn how to make sacrifices. That means staying in when you’re friends are going out. It could mean not going to prom. It means not going to the beach when your friends are.
Not many kids now want to make the sacrifices necessary or put in the work.
If it’s raining, that’s no excuse not to run outside. In fact, that’s the best time–because most likely nobody else is getting that work in. You need to have the mentality that you’re trying to get a little bit of an edge. That’s really what it takes to have success at the higher levels.
It means doing more things that involve the game of baseball–running, fielding, throwing.
When it comes to social media, I feel bad for kids now. They have deal with certain things I never had to. Some kids can be so cruel to each other, really trying to destroy someone. Personally, I don’t think any athlete should be on Facebook. It can ruin your brain. You should be concentrating on yourself and your workouts.
Kids are quick to put their entire lives on social media. Back when I played, nobody knew Neal Heaton until you played against me. But there’s an old saying, “what you don’t know won’t hurt you.”
You need to have tunnel vision.
That applies to being on the mound as well. Scouts never bothered me, I was always able to focus. I think that’s an issue with some kids even during lessons with me. Their eyes are wandering around and listening to things from people watching and I sometimes say to them, “how are you even hearing them?”
That’s the difference between players that have success in the minors verse players that have success in the majors. Sometimes players are overwhelmed with the surroundings.
As the draft approaches and scouts are contacting you, it’s important to focus just on playing. For me, it wasn’t a problem. Obviously, we had no social media and with my brother representing me, he sort of sheltered me as well.
One thing that nobody can shelter you from is the opposing dugout when you’re on the mound. The other dugout will be chirping and trying to rattle you. When you’re successful, people want to drag you down.
You almost want to be a robot out there on the mound, because once you show emotions you wake the other team up. Once they hear you’re a hot head, they’re all over you.
As far as the week leading up to the draft, the anticipation is nerve-wracking and exciting. When you get that call that you’re being drafted the first thing you do is call your family and friends and celebrate.
It’s everything you’ve worked for.
